Analysis of land use and its changes are important for understanding the provision of food, water and ecosystems’ services and the resilience of those systems. The ultimate goal of this LCLUC program is to contribute to developing the capability for periodic global inventories of land use and land cover from space, to developing the scientific understanding and models necessary to simulate the processes taking place, and to evaluate the consequences of observed and predicted changes useful for land management. The program is also contributing to the development of NASA’s Earth System Digital Twins by incorporating near real-time data on human land use into numerical Earth System models at the highest spatial and temporal resolutions. This would help operational decision-making, mitigate adverse impacts on the system and improve its sustainability.
Introduction
The Land Cover and Land Use Change (LCLUC) Program within NASA’s Earth Science Division and positioned within the Biosphere portfolio. As part of NASA’s Biosphere Program, LCLUC works in close integration with Biodiversity, Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Ocean Biology and Biodiversity (OBB), strengthening cross-program collaboration to better understand coupled human–natural systems.
Analysis of land use and its changes are essential for understanding food and water security, ecosystem services, and the resilience of managed and natural systems. The overarching goal of LCLUC is to advance the capability for periodic, satellite-based global inventories of land use and land cover; to develop scientific understanding and models that simulate land-change processes; and to evaluate the consequences of observed and projected changes for sustainable land management.
LCLUC program works closely with multiple other programs at NASA Headquarters, including Earth Action, Data Systems, the Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), and Flight Programs, ensuring strategic alignment and coordination across research, applications, technology development, and satellite missions. The program also maintains strong coordination with cross-cutting activities such as FireSense, the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program, and Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG) activities, among others, to advance community data needs and science priorities. Research opportunities are announced annually through NASA ROSES Biosphere solicitations in which LCLUC is integral. LCLUC also contributes to NASA’s Earth System Digital Twins by incorporating near–real-time observations of human land use into numerical Earth system models at increasingly high spatial and temporal resolutions. These advances support improved decision-making, mitigation of adverse impacts, and enhanced long-term sustainability.
Enhancing U.S. Research and Worldwide Impact of NASA Observations
LCLUC strengthens U.S. research while promoting the global use and impact of NASA Earth observations. By fostering collaborations between U.S. scientists and international space agencies, academia, and regional experts, the program enables U.S. researchers to test algorithms, calibrate and validate data, and apply NASA observations in diverse regions of the world for societal benefit. Leveraging local expertise enhances field observations, data accessibility, and the accuracy of satellite-derived products. Initiatives such as the South/Southeast Asia Research Initiative (SARI) and the Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) showcased the robust application of NASA Earth observations and algorithms to address land-use science challenges worldwide. LCLUC supports open data sharing, multi-satellite integration, and collaborations with international space agencies, enhancing interoperability and maximizing the scientific and societal impact of coordinated observations globally.
Scientific Focus
LCLUC occupies a distinctive role within NASA Earth Science by advancing interdisciplinary research with strong societal relevance. The program provides a scientific foundation for understanding the vulnerability and resilience of human land-use systems and their interactions with ecosystems.
Emphasis is placed on:
• Monitoring and modeling land-cover and land-use change (LCLUC)
• Interactions between land use and the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles
• Land–atmospheric feedback
• Impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services
• Fire dynamics, including wildland–urban interface processes
• Sustainable management of agriculture and forestry systems
The program supports innovative approaches, including artificial intelligence and machine learning applications to NASA and commercial satellite datasets. Through strengthened coordination with the Earth Action program, LCLUC research findings are translatable into applications addressing natural resource management, climate adaptation, and decision support.
The integration of physical and social sciences necessary to understand land-use decision-making and its environmental consequences remains a defining and unique feature of LCLUC within NASA’s Biosphere portfolio.
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Connections and Partnerships
LCLUC maintains strong interagency partnerships with organizations such as USGS, USFS, and USDA, and scientists from these agencies regularly participate in the program through competitive peer-reviewed awards. Long-standing collaborations have supported global datasets such as the Global Land Survey (GLS) and the Harmonized Landsat–Sentinel (HLS) project.
The program seeks to further strengthen interagency coordination in data development, modeling, and research to enhance understanding of land-cover and land-use change processes.
Globally, LCLUC supports satellite-derived data products and modeling studies across multiple regions. Participation of regional scientists (as collaborators with their own funding) is strongly encouraged to incorporate local knowledge and field-based validation into research efforts. The program has historically contributed to major international initiatives and continues to play a leading role in the Global Observation of Forest Cover and Land-use Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) program, particularly through regional networks that support calibration, validation, and standardized land products.
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